Boot and shoe cleaning apparatus



"" T. J. PAIRPOI-NT.

IBOOT'AND SHOE CLEANING APPARATUS. N0. 263,208. Patented Aug. 22,. 1882.

Witneses. V Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. PAIRPOINT, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT AND SHOE CLEANING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,208, dated August 22, 1882.

Application filed June 29,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. PAIRPOINT, of New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot and Shoe Cleaning Apparatus 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in machines for cleaning boots and shoes; and it consists in the combination of a revolving shaft having a brush or other cleaning device secured to each of its ends, with a suitable holding device for holding the boot or shoe being cleaned, and which is swiveled uponits beariu g so that it can be turned in any direction, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to providea machine by which boots and shoes can be cleaned with rapidity and ease.

The accompanying drawing represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

A represents a suitable frame or support of any kind, upon the top of which is journaled the shaft B, which has a cleaning device, 0, of any suitable kind, secured to each of its ends, and which revolve with the shaft. This shaft has also secured to it, at or near its center, one or more suitable driving-pulleys, D, over which the belt passes from the shaft E, which is also provided with corresponding pulleys, F. The shaft is to be operated by a treadle or by any other means that may be preferred. Secured to one end of the frameis the support G, which is made cup-shaped at its upper end, so as to receive the rounding lower end of the rod H. This lower end of the rod may form a perfect sphere or only a semi-sphere, as is here shown, the object being to give the rod as near a universal movement as possible, so that the holder I for the boots and shoes can be turned freely around.

Upon the upper end of this red H is slipped the holder I, which may either be of the form here shown or any other that may be preferred, and which has the socket K formed on its lower end, so as to fit over the upper end of the rod H. By means of this socket the holder can be raised or lowered, so as to bring every part of the article being cleaned in contact with the brush, which could not be done if this outward movement were not given. It will readily be seen thatthe holder can be swung around upon its pivot and raised and lowered, and is thus given a perfect universal movement, so that articles of all sizes can be cleaned equally well. The boot or shoe, havin g first been coated with blacking and pressed against the rapidly-revolving cleaners, will be polished very rapidly and with great ease to the operator. This machine is specially adapted for use in hotels and large boarding-houses, where a large number of boots and shoes are to be cleaned at a time.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- 1. In a boot and shoe cleaner, the combination of a revolving shaft, B, provided with suitable brushes, with a holding device, sub stantially as set forth, which has both a vertical and a lateral swinging movement, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the revolving shaft provided with cleaning-brushes with the support G, the rod H, and holder I, substantially as shown.

3. In a boot and shoe cleaner, the combination of the shaft B, journaled in suitable bearings and provided with the brushes 0, suitable means for revolving the shaft, the support Gr, rod H, and holder I, provided with the socket K, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS JOSEPH PAIRPOINT.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. TRIPP, JOHN E. BABOOCK. 

